Ford and UAW Reach Tentative Deal After Six-Week Strike

The proposed contract includes a 25% general wage increase over four years, with an 11% boost taking effect in the first year alone. For the union’s rank-and-file, this translates to top-tier wages exceeding $40 an hour, while starting pay for temporary workers could jump by more than 150% over the contract's term. UAW leadership described the agreement as the most lucrative deal per member since the era of Walter Reuther.

Beyond immediate pay, the proposal eliminates contentious wage tiers and introduces a right to strike over plant closures—a first for the union. UAW president Shawn Fain characterized the shift as a turning point for the American working class, noting that Ford offered 50% more than their initial proposal once the "Stand-Up Strike" gained momentum. While Ford CEO Jim Farley expressed satisfaction with the resolution, the deal still awaits ratification by the 16,000 workers who participated in the strike. Meanwhile, approximately 30,000 employees at Stellantis and General Motors remain on the picket lines as their own negotiations persist.